Understanding Skin protective barrier – Skin’s protective barrier

Skin, the body’s largest organ, is our first and best defence against external aggressors. When skin is healthy, its many layers work hard to protect us, but when its condition is compromised, its ability to work as an effective barrier is impaired. Superior skincare choices, and the use of products containing Dexpanthenol, help to protect skin, support its natural defence, keep it looking and feeling its natural best and help it to do its job of protecting us.

Skin is the ultimate multi-tasker, performing many functions that are essential to our overall wellbeing.

It plays an important psychological role. As the most visible indication of health, the condition of our skin affects how we feel about ourselves and how others view us.

But skin’s most important role is as the first line of defence between our bodies and the world we live in. It protects us and helps to keep us healthy by:

• Maintaining the balance of fluids in the body. Binding in moisture when necessary and preventing moisture loss.
• Regulating body temperature: it insulates our body, conserves heat in cold conditions and perspires to cool the body down when it gets hot. 
• Sensing pressure and pain: absorbing shock and alerting us to danger.
• Guarding the whole body from external aggressors.

The many external factors that skin protects us from include: 

• Changes in temperature and humidity: skin helps to regulate body temperature, control moisture loss and maintain the balance of fluids.
• Disease: skin works to neutralise aggressors such as bacteria, viruses and pollution and prevent them for entering the body. 
• UV light: over-exposure to these harmful rays generates free radicals – aggressive molecules that cause cell damage.
• Pressure, blows and abrasion: skin recognises pain and alerts us to danger. It acts as a barrier and shock absorber.
• Chemical substances: skin is our first line of defence against the aggressive formulas that we may encounter either in the workplace or at home if we use harsh cleansing products or inappropriate skincare.

Read more in factors that influence skin.

Skin works hard to protect our bodies, but the external forces it is subjected to can impact on its condition and impair its natural defence. This can affect our overall health as we become prone to injury and infection.

Skin itself can become dry, sensitive and irritable when its protective barrier is compromised. This affects how it looks and feels and can impact on our self-esteem. 

A careful skincare routine, using products that contain Dexpanthenol, can help to protect skin, support skin’s protective barrier and help it to do its job of protecting us. The right skincare choices can also prevent premature skin ageing.

Many of the external factors that skin protects us from have, in turn, an impact on skin itself. UV exposure, changes in climate and temperature and the use of chemicals in the workplace or harsh cleansing products at home can overtax skin’s natural neutralising capability, impair its ability to bind in moisture and weaken its effectiveness as a protective barrier. As a result skin can

dry out, become sensitive and prone to the exacerbation of diseases such as Atopic Dermatitis.

Washing too frequently with water that is too hot can also cause skin to dry out, damage its permeability barrier and trigger skin conditions.

An unbalanced diet, little or no exercise, stress, a lack of sleep, smoking, dehydration and certain medicines all influence skin and impact on its ability to operate as a protective barrier.

Skin is also effected by a number of internal factors: genetics, biological ageing, hormones and specific conditions such as diabetes. Read more in Factors that influence skin.

Skin consists of three main layers – the epidermis, the dermis and the subcutis – each of which contributes to skin’s protective abilities.

The outermost layers of skin (the epidermis) form a protective barrier against environmental influences. The external layer of the epidermis - the stratum corneum or horny layer - is made up of dead cells embedded in epidermal lipids and is covered by the hydrolipid film which includes the acid mantle.

Epidermal lipids

These are responsible for binding in moisture and creating skin’s permeability barrier, helping to prevent bacteria and viruses from penetrating the skin’s surface.

The hydrolipid film
An emulsion of water and lipids (fats) which covers the surface of the skin and acts as a further barrier against toxins. 

The acid mantle
The water part of the hydrolipid film. It gives skin its mildly acidic pH – the perfect environment for skin friendly microorganisms (known as skin flora) to thrive and harmful microorganisms to be destroyed. Read more in Skin’s pH.

When skin is repeatedly exposed to certain external stimuli the horny layer thickens to defend the body (for example, when calluses form on hands or feet that are exposed to repeated rubbing). If an irritant or infectious agent passes this first line of defence, skin’s immune system reacts to regenerate and repair the skin. Read more about how skin repairs itself in skin structure and function.

The lower layers of the epidermis are also responsible for the production of Vitamin D, which protects us from rickets.

The other two layers of skin - the dermis and the subcutis - also contribute to skin’s protective barrier. Read more in skin structure and function.

Healthy lifestyle choices and a regular skincare routine using appropriate products will help to protect your skin and reinforce its natural barrier properties. Read more in a daily routine for the face and a skincare routine for the body.

Appropriate products are those that have been formulated specifically for your skin type and condition and that respect your skin’s optimum pH value. Look out for medical skincare products that are suitable for sensitive skin. 

Choose products that contain Dexpanthenol - an active ingredient proven to help regenerate skin’s natural protective barrier.

Some areas of the body, for example the hands and face, are more exposed to external forces than other parts. Skincare should reflect the varying needs of skin in different parts of the body. 

Skin is a living organ and undergoes significant changes during a person’s lifetime. Each stage has its own demands and skincare and protection should reflect these changing needs. Read more in Understanding skin at different ages.

Intelligent sun protection is an essential part of your morning skincare routine. UV rays damage skin, weaken its barrier function, are one of the major causes of premature ageing and can lead to more severe conditions such as cancers. Find out more in the effects of sun exposure and how to protect skin in sun.